Changes to race winnings to support smaller clubs

The amount of prize money for harness racing in Parkes and Dubbo will be reduced under a new plan to discourage trainers from travelling to those districts.

Harness Racing New South Wales is holding a meeting tonight in Bathurst to discuss the future of the sport in the west.

The racing manager, Adam Fairley, says the organisation wants to give horses at smaller clubs a better chance to win and keep prize money in their areas.

He says by reducing the stakes, more experienced trainers will be less tempted to travel.

"A lot of horses were winning from Bathurst at both Parkes and Dubbo when they were racing for greater prize money," he said.

"We feel that those Bathurst people more than likely won't travel, which will keep that money in those areas.

"Fifty-two per cent of Parkes and Dubbo horses win in that type of race scenario whereas when we get up to our tier one type racing only 18 percent of Parkes or Dubbo horses wins."

He says it is hoped it will give smaller clubs a chance to keep winnings in their districts, rather than have it go to outside trainers.

"At Bathurst quite obviously it's a fair way for those Bathurst participants to travel to both Parkes and Dubbo, we've given them more tier two meetings because they've been winning those races predominantly in those regions anyway.

"We're hoping to keep that money within those districts so to speak as opposed to it going without."